CMV: Trump's aim isn't peace in Ukraine

Like most of us I've been watching in horror as Trump more or less abandons Ukraine and looks for trading opportunities with Russia. I've been trying to make sense of it, why would the author of 'the art of the deal' offer Putin everything he wants? That's not how you negotiate. Or at least it's not if he was trying to get something out of Russia. On the other hand it's a perfect way of getting something out of Europe.

Trump's never been shy about his problems with NATO and how much America's security commitments cost them, he wants Europe to increase military investment so that America can reduce their own costs. A likely outcome of Trump's negotiations is that Europe will lose faith that America will keep Russia in check and be forced to take matters into their own hands. This is exactly what Trump has wanted since the beginning of his first term.

Whether this is a good strategy or not is not the issue I want to discuss, my view is that Trump's negotiations are simply theater to scare Europe into doing what he wants. Change my view.